Attachment for steering-wheel posts



May 20 1924- G. w. GATES ATTACHMENT FOR STEERING WHEEL POSTS Filed March14. 1921 GEORGE WEITNEY GATES, or CLEVEL N 01-110.

if C.

ATTACHMENT FoRisTEnRING-wHEEL ros'rs.

Application filed March 14, 1921.- Serial No 451,942.

To 112. 10/2 (I R 2'2 122 (17/ concern.

Be it known that I. Gronon'lV. GATES, a ci izen of the United States,residing at Cleveland. in the county of Cuya'hoga and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Attachment forSteering-\Vheel losts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is primarily designed for the convenience of automobiledrivers who desire a. handy holder for matches, cigars, cigarettes andotherarticles while at the steering wheel of the vehicle, and asexemplified herein the invention consists of a flexible metal strapwhich is adapted to be folded and bent on predetermined lines to permitit to be attached to the steering post of the vehicle, and to produce aplural number of holding devices within a limited space.

In the annexed drawing, Fig. 1 is a per spective view of my improveddevice attached to a steering wheel post or column. Fig. 2 is aperspective View of the device partly folded. Fig. 3 is a cross sectionof the post and a sectional view of the device clamped upon the post.Fig. 4 is an elevation of the strap or blank. Fig. 5 is an end elevationof the device strapped upon the post.

The device consists of a flexible strap made of sheet metal having amain body portion 2 with a relatively long narrow extension 3 at one endand a shorter tongue 4 at its opposite end. Three lips or flanges 5, 6and 7 project at spaced intervals from the bottom edge of body portion2, and a rectangular opening 8 is formed transversely of body portion 2opposite the first lip 5. Three parallel slots 9, 10 and 11 are alsoformed at the right of body 2 opposite lips 6 and 7 and the section 12etween slots 9 and 10 is serrated or roughened to provide a scratchingsurface for matches.

The strap or band as described is scored or marked transversely atpredetermined places to facilitate bending and folding thereof first. toprovide a rectangular receptacle adapted to hold a box 15 of matches,

second. to form a loop 16 adapted to clamp the article upon a roundcolumn or post 17, third, to produce a wide spring clip 18 adapted toclasp a cigar, fourth, to make a smaller spring clip '19 at theextremity of the large clip to retain a memorandum card or letter. andfifth. to fashion a spring holder 20 for a small box or package 21 ofcigarettes. The lips 5 and (3 are bent at right angles-to the, face ofthe strap to provide rests for the box of matches 15, and lip 7 providesa seat for the box or package 21,

while opening 8 serves to expose one side of the match box where asafety match may be struck and ignited.

Preliminary to mounting the device on the steering post, the longerextension 3 is drawn through slot 9 until the shoulders 22 abut againstthe face of the strap as shown in Fig; 2; then the rou hened section 12is shaped to the round co umn and the end of extension 3 projectedthrough slot 10 and pulled forwardly until a tight clamping fit on thepost is obtained. A sharp turn is then given to extension 3 to lock theparts together and then the end of the extension is threaded through thethird slot 11 and drawn tightly toward the rear and immediately doubledor bent toward the post to permanently lock the parts together. The endportion of extenslon 3 which forms spring holder 20 is then folded orbent on angular or curved 8( lines substantially parallel with the rearside of body 2 at the base of tongue 4 which is turned or doubled oncurved lines toward the post to produce the spring clip 18. The

smaller clip 19 is folded sharply back upon the stock to stiffen the endof the larger spring clip 18 and provide frictional engaging surfacesfor a card or other thin body. The device may be marketed either in theflat form as shown in Fig. 4. or it may be 01 sold partly pre-formed asshown in Fig. 2.

lVhat I claim is: 1. An attachment for a steering wheel post;con'iprising a flexible strap having amain body portion provided withparallel 9 slots at intervals and embodying a relatively long extensionat one end adapted to be drawn through said slots and having lips atintervals at one edge. whereby a plurality of article holders may beformed and a clamp- 1 ing loop produced to mount upon and en gage thepost.

2. An attachment for a steering wheel post, comprising a flexible strapof metal having a series of lips at one edge and rela- 1 tively long andshort narrowed extensions at its opposite ends and slots intermediatesaid extensions and adapted to be folded to provide a clamping loop,. arectangular receptacle and a-plurality of spring clips. 1

.3. An attachment for a steering wheel post, comprising a single strapof metal slotgular receptacle, said strap having narrow end portionsadapted to pass through said slots to provide a loop portion adapted tosurround the post, said end portions being bent to provide a spring clipextending from said loop and a terminal clip at the front side of saidspring clip and a holder at the rear side of said spring clip.

Signed at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, this4th day of March, 1921.

GEORGE \VHITNEY GATES.

